14 
BULLETIN 697, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
per cent humidity. Under these conditions there is usually an 
improvement of the fine flavor and the tenderness and palatability 
of the flesh. For this reason the grapefruit season can be appre- 
ciably lengthened by holding the ripe fruits under storage condi- 
tions. Another factor of importance in this connection is that 
consumers can keep the fruits without appreciable deterioration in 
quality for considerable periods of time. 
SEEDY STRAINS. 
Two seedy strains have been found which are alike in most char- 
acteristics of tree and fruit, but which differ greatly in texture of 
rind and shape of the fruits. 
The trees of the seedy strains, an illustration of which is shown 
in Plate III, bear relatively very small crops and usually have a 
very marked alternate-season habit of bearing. The trees have a 
peculiar and characteristic drooping habit of growth, giving them 
a dwarfed appearance, which renders their determination an easy 
matter when once this condition is known. The leaves are rather 
sparse, small to medium in size, light green in color, and are usually 
narrow and very sharply pointed. 
All of the heavily seeded fruits are objectionable, and their presence 
in the regular crop tends to depreciate its value as a whole in the 
markets, in many cases lowering the price received about $1 per box. 
In addition to this direct cause of loss to the growers, the presence 
of fruits of the seedy strains impairs the reputation of the entire 
Marsh variety. 
Table II. — Performance record of Marsh grapefruit tree No. 1-15-29, Rough Seedy 
strain, 1 showing the weight and number of fruits of each size and grade and number of 
seeds counted in detail for the season of 1912 and summarized for the 6-year period, 1910 
to 1915, inclusive. 
[The summarized 6-year record illustrates the method of assembling the data of successive seasons for 
careful comparison and study. The weights are given in pounds and ounces, except that the 6-year 
totals and the averages are expressed decimally in pounds. This tree is listed in rank 25 of Table III.] 
Detailed Record for the Season of 1912. 
Fruits. 
Seeds. » 
Sizes of fruits. 
Ivory-White 
grade. 
Standard grade. 
Cull grade. 
Total. 
Ivory- 
White 
grade. 
Stand- 
ard 
grade. 
Weight. 
Num- 
ber. 
Weight. 
Num- 
ber. 
Weight. 
Num- 
ber. 
Weight. 
Num- 
ber. 
Lbs. oz. 
0-11 
0- 
0- 
3-14 
1-14 
3- 2 
12- 
1 


4 
2 
3 
10 
Lbs. oz. 
0-11 
3- 4 
9-11 
7-10 
6-15 
16- 9 
88-11 
1 
4 
11 
8 
7 
15 
63 
Lbs. oz. 
Lbs. oz. 
1- 6 
3- 4 
9-11 
11- 8 
8-13 
19-11 
100-11 
2 
4 
11 
12 
9 
18 
73 
53 
30 
96 
80 
64 
66 
/ 36 
\ 63 
48 
32 
24 and larger 
63 
/ 55 
\ 45 
Total 
21- 9 
20 
133- 7 
109 
155- 
158- 5 
129 
133 
182 
229 
3-5 
4 
411 
Notes.— Date: May 11, 1912. Poor shape; thick-skinned fruits. 3 Seeds of cull fruits not counted. 
